Dyslexic and Accessibility Information

Students and employees have two options for using a dyslexia font, each with their own limitations. The Culpepper family purchased a site license for the school so that every student and employee can use the Dyslexie font on their school MacBook and or personal device. However, this font is not compatible with Web browsers or Chromebooks. The OpenDyslexic font is compatible with Google Chrome but does not work in Microsoft Office.
 

macOS Accessibility Settings 

macOS has a wide range of accessibility preferences for vision, hearing, and mobility. To change the accessibility preferences, select the Apple icon > System Preferences > Accessibility 

Text to Speech
Go to accessibility settings, select Speech, and check "Speak the selected text when the key is pressed". Now you can select text in any application and press Option | Ecs to have it read to you.

Temporarily Zoom Screen
Select Option | Command | 8

Quickly go to Accessibility Settings
Select Option | Command | F5

ChromeOS Accessibility Settings 

ChromeOS has a wide range of accessibility preferences for vision, hearing, and mobility. To change the accessibility preferences, select the Clock > Settings (Gear Icon) > Advanced > Accessibility 

Some Accessibility Settings Disabled
Please note that some accessibility settings have been disabled by the administrator because they were not being used as intended. Contact the technology department if you need to use the disabled accessibility settings.

Enable Always Show Accessibility
Go to accessibility settings and toggle the "Always show accessibility options in the system menu". Now the settings are available from the system menu when you select the clock. 

Text-to-Speech
Go to Accessibility Settings > Text-to-Speech > Enable select-to-speak and toggle setting. Once enabled, you can select text from any website and then press the search key and S to read aloud. (The search key is on the side where you normally find the caps lock key.)

Enable and Use Dictation
Go to Accessibility Settings > Keyboard and Text Input > Enable Dictation (Speak to type). Now wherever you type, i.e., Google Doc, search prompt, email, etc., you can press the search key and d to read aloud. (The search key is on the side where you normally find the caps lock key.)

Immersive Reader is a new Microsoft technology that is integrated into Microsoft Office and the new Edge browser; it implements proven techniques to improve reading and writing.

Immersive Reader Features

• Read aloud
• Parts of speech labeling
• Syllabification
• Adjustments for better reading
• Translations
• Canvas LMS support

Microsoft Office 365
The Immersive Reader is accessed by opening a document in the cloud from Office 365 and selecting View > Immersive Reader

Microsoft Office 2019
The Immersive Reader can be accessed by opening a document on your computer and selecting View > Learning Tools

Microsoft Edge
The Immersive Reader is built-in to the new Microsoft Edge browser and is installed on all school-issued Windows and Apple computers. The Immersive Reader icon will appear in the URL bar when a website can be read using Immersive Reader. Try a Wikipedia article to test it out.

Immersive Reader Icon in Edge

Immersive Reader Introduction Video

The Immersive Reader Chrome extension is installed on all school-issued Chromebooks; it unofficially uses the same Microsoft Immersive Reader technology.

How to use Immersive Reader in Chrome

Select some text to read from a website, right-click and select "Help me Read this". 

Immersive Reader in Chrome

Introduction Video